Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 113 Snow-white plum blossoms, strong wine, and fragrant meat

In reality, in the second-class cabin of the Haian passenger ship, the passenger closest to the cabin was the first to notice the anomaly.

He noticed that the down-on-his-luck merchant had suddenly started convulsing violently. Just as he was wondering what was going on, Yan Xun let out a terrible scream and then coughed up blood and died.

This scene caused the passengers in the cabin to scream in surprise.

"Holy crap, someone's dead!" the first passenger to notice the anomaly immediately shouted.

Soon, the ship's manager and several crew members arrived.

After a thorough examination, it was confirmed that the person was completely dead.

"How did you die?"

"I don't know, it looks like a sudden illness."

"What's his name? Where is he from?"

The steward searched through Yan Xun's luggage and found that apart from a ship ticket bought under a false name, there was nothing else that could prove his identity.

In the maritime trade of transporting passengers, the death of a person is a highly taboo matter, because once the news gets out, it can easily attract blackmail and extortion from officials.

In addition, this person looked like a down-on-his-luck merchant, so probably no one would pay attention to him. Therefore, the manager hesitated for a moment and then waved his hand.

“Take it away first!”

Then, he cupped his hands in a smile to the passengers and said, "I'm sorry you were frightened. I'll take this person away first, and after we get ashore, I'll find his family and give him a proper burial. As an apology, I'll have someone give you all a late-night snack later."

Upon hearing that there was free late-night snacks available, the passengers, who had been restless just moments before, quickly calmed down.

After all, people dying these days is all too common, especially for businessmen who are away from home; they've become quite used to it.

Instead of focusing on a small vendor of unknown origin, it's better to think about how to eat more for a late-night snack so you can save money for breakfast tomorrow.

Seeing that the situation had calmed down, the manager came outside, where the sailors were waiting for his instructions.

"Throw it into the sea," the manager said bluntly.

"Yes."

Upon hearing this, the two crew members immediately lifted Yan Xun's still-warm body, dragged it to the stern like a dead dog, and then threw it directly into the dark, cold sea.

The waves surged and quickly swallowed up all traces.

This young master Yan, born into a wealthy family in Pingjing, disappeared into the vast ocean without a trace, leaving not even a ripple in the world.

On the other side of the passenger ship, a dark figure silently climbed over the railing and stood on the outside of the ship's side.

Chen Ye looked up at the moonlight and then whistled a clear, crisp sound.

That's right, he was the one who killed Yan Xun.

The method was simple: Chen Ye used the Mirage Courtesan's talent plus the Loyal Judgment skill to drag Yan Xun into the illusion and then judge him to death.

However, this is no one's fault but his own. He has committed many wrongdoings in his daily life, which has led to his hands being stained with the blood of innocent people.

Chen Ye also gained something: his skill "Loyal Judgment" leveled up from lv1 to lv2.

While waiting for the ship to arrive, Chen Ye opened the system panel.

Name: Chen Ye

[Occupation: Mirage Court Performer LV3 (When your singing begins, a pavilion rises from the ground; when your flowing sleeves fall, a mirage-like sea appears out of thin air. Your performance can construct a dreamlike realm where reality and illusion are indistinguishable, captivating the audience and turning their dreams upside down.)]

[Talent: Prodigy of Illusion – Able to integrate one's own divine sense into the script, weaving illusions that are indistinguishable from reality, allowing viewers to feel as if they are there and experience the same emotions.]

[Skills: Insightful Observation Lv7, Stage Presence Lv5, Loyal Judgment Lv2]

The most important thing next is to upgrade your main profession so that you can meet the requirements for job change as soon as possible. Chen Ye secretly made up his mind.

Just then, an inconspicuous little boat sped out from the darkness in the distance and came to a steady stop beneath the passenger ship.

Chen Ye leaped into the air, his movements as agile as an ape, and landed silently on the small boat.

No one asked any questions, and the boatman didn't even look back before steering the boat away.

These are all people who have been operating illegal ships at sea for many years, so they naturally know the rules.

The small boat turned around and quickly disappeared into the vast night.

Once ashore, Chen Ye took off his camouflage clothing and burned it all.

After doing all this, Chen Ye quietly returned to his house.

The next day, when Qi Shihao learned that the matter had been properly handled, he was shocked.

That's truly a brilliant tactic!
However, he did not make a fuss about it, but silently reminded himself that he must never make an enemy of this fairy.

The following days were uneventful.

Chen Ye's life returned to its former tranquility. He sang operas in the Qingchun Troupe every day and fed the fish in the yard in his spare time, living a very pleasant life.

During this period, Wu Xuan, who was far away in Pingjing, sent several letters.

In the letter, he earnestly invited Chen Ye to develop his career in Pingjing, and mentioned that Prince Yu, after hearing about his deeds, praised him highly and was very curious. Even several powerful officials in the court who loved watching operas expressed their desire to see for themselves what kind of charm the "Fairy of Actors" who could make Yu Fengxian publicly pick out his calligraphy was.

This would be a golden opportunity for any actor to rise to the top.

With just a nod from Chen Ye, one could instantly become the most sought-after celebrity in the Peking Opera world of Pingjing, with fame, fortune, and status within easy reach.

After reading the letter, Chen Ye simply smiled indifferently, casually put the letter aside, and continued to leisurely scatter fish food for the koi in the pond.

Without a doubt, Pyeongsang is indeed an excellent stage, but the waters are certainly quite deep.

Putting aside everything else, there are countless stories I've heard about the power struggles among the various factions in Pingjing during this period alone.

Having experienced the previous two worlds, Chen Ye now has absolutely no interest in these ridiculous and absurd things.

It would be more comfortable to sing operas and gain experience in Zhenhaiwei.

Over the next period of time, Chen Ye's professional experience also steadily increased. Although he hadn't reached level 4 yet, he was close.

Before we knew it, it was December, and Zhenhaiwei welcomed its first snowfall of the winter.

Chen Ye sat alone in the warm pavilion of the mansion, holding a book in his hand. Snowflakes were falling outside the window, and the world was a pure white, which was a rare tranquility.

Since the matter of Yan Xun was settled, Guang Le Lou's business has been booming, and it is always packed with customers.

Even though Chen Ye only performs on stage once a week, and the rest of the time his senior brothers and sisters from the Qingchun Class, as well as Tie Dan and others, take the stage, it still can't dampen the audience's enthusiasm.

Therefore, this became a rare moment of leisure for Chen Ye. Every day, besides his daily singing practice, he would read leisurely books and feed the koi.

You know what, these koi fish were fed by Chen Ye to an extraordinary degree of plumpness. Every visitor was amazed, and some even offered a lot of money to buy them, but Chen Ye refused to sell them no matter the price.

What a joke! He's not short of money now, and these fish have been fed so well they're practically sentient. As soon as they hear his footsteps from afar, they immediately surface as if to greet him. How could he bear to sell them?

Just then, a burst of cheerful laughter came from outside the courtyard gate, interrupting Chen Ye's thoughts.

Is Mr. Chen here?

It was Lu Jinghong's voice. Chen Ye put down his book, got up and opened the door. He saw Lu Jinghong standing gracefully in the wind and snow with a little maid.

She wore a brand-new red cloak with a snow-white fox fur trim around the edge of the hood, which made her small face look even more delicate and beautiful. Her nose was red from the cold, but her bright eyes sparkled with excitement.

"With such heavy snow, how did you get here?" Chen Ye greeted him with a smile.

"If I hadn't come, you would have been moldy at home!" Lu Jinghong took off his hood, patted the snowflakes off his clothes, and sat down by the stove, taking the hand warmer handed to him by the maid.

“My father said the plum blossoms in the western hills outside the city are in bloom. There’s a Jingyun Nunnery there, and the plum grove outside the nunnery with the snow scenery is a unique sight in Zhenhaiwei. I made plans with my father and Uncle Qi to go admire the plum blossoms, but I was thinking you might be bored at home alone, so I came to ask if you would like to come along?”

Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Chen Ye, full of anticipation.

Chen Ye thought about it and realized that he had indeed been quite free lately, so it would be good to go out for a walk.

"Okay," he readily agreed.

"Great!" Lu Jinghong was so happy she almost jumped for joy. She quickly said, "My father, Uncle Qi, and Nana are all waiting in the carriage. The wine and meat are all ready. Let's set off now!"

Soon, the group boarded a spacious carriage and creaked as it headed towards the western mountains outside the city.

Inside the carriage, the heater was burning brightly, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere.

Lu Jinghong and Qi Nana, two young girls, huddled together, chattering away about their private matters, their laughter ringing out like silver bells.

Lu Dahu and Qi Shihao sat with Chen Ye, discussing recent interesting anecdotes about Zhenhaiwei, and the atmosphere was warm and harmonious.

As the carriage traveled halfway up the mountain, an ancient Taoist temple was nestled among the pines and cypresses. In front of the temple, a large plum grove, set against the backdrop of white snow, turned fiery red, creating a unique and serene atmosphere.

This is Jingyun Nunnery.

As soon as everyone got off the car, the temple gate opened, and a kind-faced female Taoist priestess dressed in a gray robe came out to greet them.

"Is it possible that Lord Lu and Constable Qi are meeting face to face? I have been waiting patiently for a long time."

This Taoist nun, Jingxin, was about forty or fifty years old, with a warm smile that made people feel like they were bathed in a spring breeze.

"You're too kind, Daoist Master," said Lu, smiling and bowing.

The nun Jingxin warmly welcomed everyone into the nunnery. She first arranged for Lu Jinghong and Qi Nana to rest in the women's quarters in the backyard, and then personally led Chen Ye, Lu Dahu, and Qi Shihao to a secluded retreat next to the nunnery.

“Distinguished guests, the nunnery is filled with women, which is quite inconvenient. This quiet retreat is a place where you may rest.” Her words and actions were impeccable, and the arrangements were extremely appropriate.

Lu the wealthy man and Qi Shihao were very impressed with her and repeatedly praised the Taoist priest for her thoughtfulness.

After settling in, everyone set up a stove in the plum grove pavilion outside the retreat, and gathered around it to brew wine and roast meat.

The scene was one of snow-white plum blossoms and red flowers, strong wine and fragrant meat, with everyone chatting and laughing, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Lu Jinghong and Qi Nana, the two young girls, were not good drinkers. After only a few cups, their faces turned as red as peach blossoms, and they looked charming and adorable. They were helped back to the nunnery by their maids to rest.

Only Chen Ye, Lu, and Qi remained in the pavilion.

After drinking a few more cups, Lu the landlord and Qi Shihao felt slightly tipsy and went back to their rooms to rest.

Chen Ye, however, felt no sleepiness whatsoever.

He walked to the window, pushed it open a crack, and a cold wind carrying snowflakes rushed in, instantly dispelling much of his drunkenness.

He looked out the window at the plum grove and, for some reason, felt that the plum blossoms were too flamboyant. Moreover, the red color didn't seem to be the color of the petals; it looked more like it was stained with blood, a red that was somewhat dazzling.

He focused his attention for a moment, but found no evil or resentful energy. He simply assumed that the plum blossoms on West Mountain were of a special variety and did not think much of it.

But just then, the sky suddenly changed color.

What was originally a light, gentle snowfall was suddenly interrupted by a fierce wind that made the windowpanes rattle.

Immediately afterwards, a heavy snowfall began, and within moments, the view outside the window became blurred, and visibility rapidly decreased.

A rare blizzard arrived unexpectedly.

Chen Ye frowned slightly, and was about to go out to remind Lu Da Hu and the others when he heard a soft creaking sound coming from the courtyard gate of the mansion.

The sound, though faint amidst the howling wind and snow, was exceptionally clear.

Did someone push open the gate in the blizzard?
Chen Ye flashed and instantly arrived in the courtyard.

However, the courtyard was empty, with no one in sight except for the heavy snow falling all around. Only the half-closed gate swayed gently in the wind.

"Mr. Chen, what's wrong?"

Lu Dahu and Qi Shihao were also awakened by the sudden snowstorm. They pushed open the door and went out, where they saw Chen Ye standing in the courtyard with a solemn expression. They couldn't help but ask him what was wrong.

"Something's not right," Chen Ye said in a low voice. "Be careful, both of you. Stay alert and don't wander off."

The two of them immediately calmed down and nodded solemnly.

Qi Shihao even drew his personal sword. Although his martial arts skills were mediocre, it was good for boosting his courage.

The wind and snow grew heavier, and within just half an hour, the road up the mountain was completely blocked.

The coachman braved the wind and snow, tumbling and crawling as he came to report that the snow was already above knee-deep, making it impossible to go down the mountain or even move the carriage.

The group was trapped on this western mountain.

Upon hearing this, both Lu the tycoon and Qi Shihao's expressions changed.

In the desolate mountains and wilderness, with heavy snow blocking the way, this is no joke.

Just as everyone was starting to panic, Chen Ye remained unusually calm.

"What's the panic!" His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a convincing power. "Move all the food and charcoal inside, seal the doors and windows to prevent heat loss. Coachman, gather all the carriages together, lead them downwind, and cover them with tarpaulins so the animals don't catch a cold."

He made arrangements methodically, and after this series of orders, the panicked hearts of the crowd were miraculously calmed down, and they immediately began to act in a flurry of activity.

The nun Jingxin was very cooperative, running around helping to move things and arranging for the nuns in the temple to boil water; she was very attentive.

After a flurry of activity, everyone finally settled down again.

But the heavy snow outside showed no signs of stopping.

After working hard for most of the day, everyone was tired and went back to sleep.

Inside the nunnery's women's quarters, Lu Jinghong and Qi Nana slept on the same bed.

Although it was freezing cold outside, the doors and windows inside the house were sealed tightly with strips of cloth, so it wasn't too cold.

Lu Jinghong was even inexplicably excited.

Being trapped on the mountain with Chen Ye, could that be considered... sharing hardships?

Lost in her thoughts, her face flushed, and it wasn't until much later that she drifted off to sleep with a sweet feeling in her heart.

But as soon as she fell asleep, she was plunged into a bizarre and fantastical dream.

With the sounds of suona horns and drums filling the air, a wedding procession slowly made its way toward the Taoist temple.

(End of this chapter)